In honor of what would have been Kenny Rogers’ 82nd birthday on Friday (August 21st), The Estate of Kenneth Ray Rogers released for the first time ever “The Gambler” (Live) on all streaming services. The version was recorded during Kenny’s performance at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon on April 13, 1985 as part of his North American tour.
“The Gambler” (Live) is the first single being released from the upcoming Kenny Rogers album Greatest Hits Live. Additional details on the live album release will be unveiled later this year.
“The Gambler" was Kenny's fourth chart-topping solo hit and one of five consecutive songs by the music icon to hit Number One on theBillboardcountry music chart.
- “The Gambler" also went to #3 on theBillboardAdult Contemporary chart and #16 on theBillboardHot 100.
- The song won a 1978 Grammy for Best Country Song and became CMA’s 1979 Song of the Year. Kenny won a 1979 Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for “The Gambler,” and also earned CMA’s 1979 Male Vocalist of the Year. In addition, the album,The Gambler, won CMA honors as 1979 Album of the Year, among other accolades.
- In 2018, “The Gambler” was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.”